Hi,
I have a mercruiser 3.0 with an Alpha 1 outdrive. the engine runs great up
to about 3/4 throttle, but when I go to w.o.t. the engine still runs fine
but it starts to make a loud clacking sound. I sat beside the engine with
the cover off while someone else was driving to try to determine if it was
caused by something vibrating, but it appears to be coming from inside the
engine. Any ideas what this might be?
Thanks,

It is odd for an engine to start making a noise above 3/4 throttle and not
make it below. It's pretty hard to diagnose a noise over the internet too.
One man's clack is another's thump if you know what I mean.

Is it rpm dependent in that if you vary the throttle a little it gets faster
or slower?

Lower end noises such as rod or main bearings tend to be deeper sounding,
more of a knock or thud. Rod bearing and wrist pin issues will change sound
if you pull the plug wire on the problem cylinder but that is a lot more
difficult to do to a 4 cylinder than it is to a 6 or 8 cylinder because
pulling a plug wire has a more dramatic effect on a 4 cylinders performance.
True clacking usually is a valve train noise that is caused by too much
clearance. Hydralic lifters can cause it to come and go based on rpm
because they use the oil pressure to stay pumped up. But usually the
problem is the other way around, a clacking at low rpm that goes away at
higher rpm.

I'm a bit stumped by a clacking that appears at high rpm. If it is valve
train it will sound like it's coming from the valve cover.

"B. Alexander" wrote in message
...
Hi,
I have a mercruiser 3.0 with an Alpha 1 outdrive. the engine runs great up
to about 3/4 throttle, but when I go to w.o.t. the engine still runs fine
but it starts to make a loud clacking sound. I sat beside the engine with
the cover off while someone else was driving to try to determine if it was
caused by something vibrating, but it appears to be coming from inside the
engine. Any ideas what this might be?
Thanks,

"JamesgangNC" wrote in message
ink.net...
It is odd for an engine to start making a noise above 3/4 throttle and not
make it below. It's pretty hard to diagnose a noise over the internet
too.
One man's clack is another's thump if you know what I mean.

Is it rpm dependent in that if you vary the throttle a little it gets
faster
or slower?

Lower end noises such as rod or main bearings tend to be deeper sounding,
more of a knock or thud. Rod bearing and wrist pin issues will change
sound
if you pull the plug wire on the problem cylinder but that is a lot more
difficult to do to a 4 cylinder than it is to a 6 or 8 cylinder because
pulling a plug wire has a more dramatic effect on a 4 cylinders
performance.
True clacking usually is a valve train noise that is caused by too much
clearance. Hydralic lifters can cause it to come and go based on rpm
because they use the oil pressure to stay pumped up. But usually the
problem is the other way around, a clacking at low rpm that goes away at
higher rpm.

I'm a bit stumped by a clacking that appears at high rpm. If it is valve
train it will sound like it's coming from the valve cover.

"B. Alexander" wrote in message
...
Hi,
I have a mercruiser 3.0 with an Alpha 1 outdrive. the engine runs great
up
to about 3/4 throttle, but when I go to w.o.t. the engine still runs
fine
but it starts to make a loud clacking sound. I sat beside the engine
with
the cover off while someone else was driving to try to determine if it
was
caused by something vibrating, but it appears to be coming from inside
the
engine. Any ideas what this might be?
Thanks,





Could be low on oil or a bad filter or a bad oil pressure bypass valve and
causing lifter collapse or a bad lifter.

I had not thought of that, an oil delivery problem could be showing up at
high rpm as lifter noise. If that's the explanation then that could be
pretty bad if it continues as there would be an oil problem to the crank
too.

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
ink.net...

"JamesgangNC" wrote in message
ink.net...
It is odd for an engine to start making a noise above 3/4 throttle and
not
make it below. It's pretty hard to diagnose a noise over the internet
too.
One man's clack is another's thump if you know what I mean.

Is it rpm dependent in that if you vary the throttle a little it gets
faster
or slower?

Lower end noises such as rod or main bearings tend to be deeper
sounding,
more of a knock or thud. Rod bearing and wrist pin issues will change
sound
if you pull the plug wire on the problem cylinder but that is a lot more
difficult to do to a 4 cylinder than it is to a 6 or 8 cylinder because
pulling a plug wire has a more dramatic effect on a 4 cylinders
performance.
True clacking usually is a valve train noise that is caused by too much
clearance. Hydralic lifters can cause it to come and go based on rpm
because they use the oil pressure to stay pumped up. But usually the
problem is the other way around, a clacking at low rpm that goes away at
higher rpm.

I'm a bit stumped by a clacking that appears at high rpm. If it is
valve
train it will sound like it's coming from the valve cover.

"B. Alexander" wrote in message
...
Hi,
I have a mercruiser 3.0 with an Alpha 1 outdrive. the engine runs
great
up
to about 3/4 throttle, but when I go to w.o.t. the engine still runs
fine
but it starts to make a loud clacking sound. I sat beside the engine
with
the cover off while someone else was driving to try to determine if it
was
caused by something vibrating, but it appears to be coming from inside
the
engine. Any ideas what this might be?
Thanks,





Could be low on oil or a bad filter or a bad oil pressure bypass valve and
causing lifter collapse or a bad lifter.

Thanks for the replies,
How can I check if there is enough oil being delivered at W.O.T. I have an
oil pressure gauge on the dash, but it doesn't give the actual P.S.I, it's
only color coded and I doubt it's very accurate anyways.

"JamesgangNC" wrote in message
ink.net...
I had not thought of that, an oil delivery problem could be showing up at
high rpm as lifter noise. If that's the explanation then that could be
pretty bad if it continues as there would be an oil problem to the crank
too.

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
ink.net...

"JamesgangNC" wrote in message
ink.net...
It is odd for an engine to start making a noise above 3/4 throttle and
not
make it below. It's pretty hard to diagnose a noise over the internet
too.
One man's clack is another's thump if you know what I mean.

Is it rpm dependent in that if you vary the throttle a little it gets
faster
or slower?

Lower end noises such as rod or main bearings tend to be deeper
sounding,
more of a knock or thud. Rod bearing and wrist pin issues will change
sound
if you pull the plug wire on the problem cylinder but that is a lot
more
difficult to do to a 4 cylinder than it is to a 6 or 8 cylinder
because
pulling a plug wire has a more dramatic effect on a 4 cylinders
performance.
True clacking usually is a valve train noise that is caused by too
much
clearance. Hydralic lifters can cause it to come and go based on rpm
because they use the oil pressure to stay pumped up. But usually the
problem is the other way around, a clacking at low rpm that goes away
at
higher rpm.

I'm a bit stumped by a clacking that appears at high rpm. If it is
valve
train it will sound like it's coming from the valve cover.

"B. Alexander" wrote in message
...
Hi,
I have a mercruiser 3.0 with an Alpha 1 outdrive. the engine runs
great
up
to about 3/4 throttle, but when I go to w.o.t. the engine still runs
fine
but it starts to make a loud clacking sound. I sat beside the engine
with
the cover off while someone else was driving to try to determine if
it
was
caused by something vibrating, but it appears to be coming from
inside
the
engine. Any ideas what this might be?
Thanks,





Could be low on oil or a bad filter or a bad oil pressure bypass valve
and
causing lifter collapse or a bad lifter.

Detonation. See if the clacking gets better with high octane gas.


B. Alexander wrote:
Hi,
I have a mercruiser 3.0 with an Alpha 1 outdrive. the engine runs great up
to about 3/4 throttle, but when I go to w.o.t. the engine still runs fine
but it starts to make a loud clacking sound. I sat beside the engine with
the cover off while someone else was driving to try to determine if it was
caused by something vibrating, but it appears to be coming from inside the
engine. Any ideas what this might be?
Thanks,

On Tue, 22 Jun 2004 21:40:28 GMT, cb wrote:

Detonation. See if the clacking gets better with high octane gas.


B. Alexander wrote:
Hi,
I have a mercruiser 3.0 with an Alpha 1 outdrive. the engine runs great up
to about 3/4 throttle, but when I go to w.o.t. the engine still runs fine
but it starts to make a loud clacking sound. I sat beside the engine with
the cover off while someone else was driving to try to determine if it was
caused by something vibrating, but it appears to be coming from inside the
engine. Any ideas what this might be?
Thanks,



CB, you might try the 'screwdriver test'. Use a long bladed screwdriver and
while someone is operating the boat place the end of the handle against your
ear. Then touch the blade to various parts of the engine that you can reach.
You'll quick by able to locate the general source of the sound. I've used this
technique on motorcycles quite frequently. It works similar to a stethoscope,
which most of us don't have lying around.

Once you've pinpointed (as much as possible) the location of the sound, then
maybe some of the mechanic types in the group can help you more.

Good luck.

John H

On the 'Poco Loco' out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!